Avast Cleanup for Android - FAQs

Avast Cleanup for Android is a mobile app designed to help you improve the performance of your device and preserve storage space by removing unnecessary media, files, apps, and app data. Remove these items by transferring them to a cloud storage account and/or deleting them from your device. In the case of photos, you can also optimize them to consume less space.

This article answers common questions related to the features, settings, and general use of Avast Cleanup for Android.

Download and Installation

What are the system requirements for Avast Cleanup?

You can install and run Avast Cleanup on any device running operating systems Google Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean, API 16) and higher.

If you are using a custom ROM, the app may not work as expected. Please report any feedback regarding this issue through our support pages.

Avast Cleanup is not supported and cannot be installed or run on Symbian, iOS, Microsoft Windows Phone/Mobile, Bada, WebOS, or any mobile operating system other than Android. This app does not work on iPhone or iPad devices.

How can I download and install Avast Cleanup?

Avast Cleanup for Android devices is available for download from the Google Play Store.

Open Google Play Store from the apps screen on your Android device and search for Avast Cleanup.

Open the Avast Cleanup & Boost page from the search results.

Tap Install, and if asked for permissions, select Accept.

Once the installation is complete, tap Open to start using the app.

Select Continue to confirm that you have read and accept the terms of the AVAST End User License Agreement and Privacy Policy.

Avast Cleanup is now installed and ready to use. For additional features and functions, upgrade to Avast Cleanup Pro.

How can I uninstall Avast Cleanup?

To remove Avast Cleanup from your Android device:

Open Settings from the main screen of your Android device.

Select the Apps, then Avast Cleanup.

In the Storage section, tap Clear data and Clear cache.

Then select Uninstall and then tap OK to confirm.

Avast Cleanup is no longer installed on your device.

These steps can differ slightly depending on your device mode, Android version and vendor customizations.

Trending

What happens when I tap the Device Analysis button on the main screen of the app?

When you tap the Device Analysis button, Avast Cleanup analyzes your device for opportunities to release as much storage space on your device as possible. Avast Cleanup then displays these opportunities so that you can select the actions you want Cleanup to perform.

What does an Avast Cleanup Pro subscription include?

Avast Cleanup Pro is the paid version of the app. With a paid Pro subscription, you can take advantage of the following premium features:

What types of files are processed during a Safe Clean and can I customize them?

When you perform a Safe Clean, the app scans for certain items and caches which are unnecessary to the operation of your device. These include thumbnails, APKS, residual files, and hidden, visible, and shared cache.

To configure Safe clean to ignore item types that you do not want deleted, follow these steps:

Tap the menu icon at the top-left of the app interface.

Tap Settings, then tap Safe cleaning.

Under Delete during safe clean, turn ON or OFF the file types according to your preferences.

Why does the Safe Clean scan run slowly or pause mid-progress?

During a scan, Avast Cleanup probes several folder-levels deep to identify all dispensable data on your device. Depending on the number of items Avast Cleanup needs to scan and the computing power of your device, a scan may take several seconds to a number of minutes. If the scanner encounters a particularly complex folder, a notification is displayed in the scanner progress bar.

Can I exclude apps from the effects of the Boost Memory feature?

Yes. The first time you use the Boost Memory feature, you are prompted to use the Memory Booster Check which enables you to untick any apps that you do not want to be affected by the Boost Memory feature. By default, all non-system apps are ticked. Turn the Memory Booster Check option ON in your Avast Cleanup settings so that each time you tap the Boost Memory button, you can review which apps will be affected and untick any that you do not want to be stopped on that occasion.

Can I keep copies of the media and files I transfer to cloud storage on my device?

Yes. Follow these steps:

Tap the menu icon at the top-left of the app interface.

Tap Settings then tap Cloud services.

At the bottom of the screen, turn OFF the option to Delete files after transfer.

This setting affects all connected cloud services.

Where can I find items after they are transferred to cloud storage?

To locate an item that you transferred to cloud storage, sign into your cloud storage service and access the relevant folder:

In Google Drive or OneDrive: AvastCleanup

In Dropbox: Avast Cleanup (in the Apps folder)

Your transferred items are organized in the same way that they were organized on your device.

How do I enable or disable the Charging screen?

Tap the menu icon (three lines) in the top left corner of the Avast Cleanup screen.

Tap Settings.

Tap Charging screen, then tap the slider so that it changes to ON.

To disable the Charging screen follow the above steps and tap the slider so that it changes to OFF.

While the Charging screen is active, you can swipe right at the bottom of the screen to exit, or tap the gear icon to access Charging screen settings.

How can I customize or disable the notifications I receive from Avast Cleanup?

Avast Cleanup notifies you when you have opportunities to enhance the performance and amount of available space on your device. If you do not want to see these warnings (or you want to customize them), tap the menu icon at the top-left of the app interface, tap Settings, tap Notifications, then tap a notification type and select Disabled or change your conditions for receiving it.

In the latest version of Avast Cleanup, notifications are tailored to be more relevant for you as a user. You will receive notifications based on which Avast Cleanup features and settings you use most frequently.

How can I change the color scheme of the Avast Cleanup interface?

The latest version of Avast Cleanup includes a Themes setting which allows you to select a color scheme for the interface. To access this setting, tap the menu icon at the top-left of the app interface, then tap Themes. Tap the tile of the color scheme you want to apply. Tiles with the lock symbol indicate that the color scheme is only available after watching a short video. Avast Cleanup Pro users can access all themes without videos.

How do I know what's new in my installed version of Avast Cleanup?

After installing or updating to the latest version of Avast Cleanup, an icon with the text New appears on the main screen of the app. Tap the icon to view which new features are available.

Safe Clean

What is Safe Clean?

When you tap the Safe Clean button on the main screen of the app, Avast Cleanup cleans your device by removing dispensable files to free your storage space. You can define the exact types of items that are cleaned in your Safe cleaning settings.

How can I ensure important items are not deleted during a Safe Clean?

The Safe Clean function was carefully designed to only remove data that is truly dispensable, such as system caches that can be easily replaced, or already installed APK files. If you're concerned, you can define the exact types of items that are cleaned in your Safe cleaning settings and also turn the Safe Clean Check option on to review items before they are deleted.

Can I review items before they are deleted by Safe Clean?

Yes. Follow these steps:

Tap the menu icon at the top-left of the app interface.

Tap Settings.

Tap Safe cleaning and turn ON the Safe Clean Check option.

When this setting is enabled, an overview of all items identified for deletion during a Safe Clean are displayed before you confirm the actual deletion. You can untick items that you do not want to delete before completing the clean in all categories, except for Hidden Cache, which can be cleaned all at once or not at all.

Can I restore files that are deleted during a Safe Clean?

No. You can't restore the files that are deleted during a Safe Clean. This function was designed to only remove dispensable data such as system caches and already installed APK files. If you're concerned, we recommend turning the Safe Clean Check option on in your Safe cleaning settings to review items before proceeding with any deletions.

Why does the Safe Clean button show such a low amount of removable space?

If you have recently run a Safe Clean, the amount of removable space may be low because your apps have not created more dispensable data yet. Another reason may be that some of your Safe Clean categories are unchecked and therefore ignored when the clean is run. Check the categories in your Safe cleaning settings, if you are concerned.

Why is the Thumbnails category unticked by default?

Thumbnails are the small versions of pictures used for previews. Deleting thumbnails during a Safe Clean can release significant amounts of data on some devices while on others the effect is very limited. For this reason, this category is unticked by default. You can test the effectiveness of this option on your device and decide whether to check it or not.

Why does Avast Cleanup request permission during a Safe Clean?

If you are using Android 6 or above, Avast Cleanup does not have rights to access parts of your internal cache. This means that Avast Cleanup cannot fully clean certain files from your device during a Safe Clean. To enable Avast Cleanup to perform a full Safe Clean, follow these steps:

Tap Safe Clean on the main screen of the app and ensure Hidden Cache is ticked.

Tap Finish cleaning, then tab Enable in the dialog that appears.

Scroll to the Services section and tap Avast Cleanup.

Tap the slider next to OFF so that it changes to ON.

Tap Back to return to the main Avast Cleanup screen.

Cloud Transfers

What is 'the cloud' and which cloud storage services does Avast Cleanup support?

'The cloud' refers to virtual storage space where you can keep media and files such as photos, videos, and documents. Several cloud storage providers exist. With the Avast Cleanup app, you can connect to and transfer files and media from your device directly to Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive.

At one time, you can connect to multiple Google Drive accounts, one Dropbox account, and one OneDrive account via the Cloud services settings.

How do I add an item to a cloud transfer queue?

To transfer an item to your cloud storage account, follow these steps:

Tap the menu icon at the top-left of the app interface.

Tap Pictures or Media & Files depending on the type of items you want to transfer.

Select any items that you want to transfer, tap the menu icon, then tap Move to cloud.

If you encounter a transfer fail, retry the transfer at a later time or with a different service.

Photos

What is the Photos feature and what does it include?

When you tap Photos on the main screen of the app, Avast Cleanup analyzes your photos for opportunities to clear space on your device. Your photos are then organized into the following sections:

Optimizable images: photos that can be resized to the size of your device screen to make them smaller and less space-consuming. Images that are already the same size as your device screen (for example, screenshots) or smaller are not optimizable.

Old photos: photos that were time-stamped a month or more ago.

Similar photos: groups of photos with nearly identical content. Avast Cleanup labels the highest quality image in each group as Best photo.

Bad photos: photos which may be out of focus, dark, or of low quality.

Photos for review: photos that Avast Cleanup has identified as possible low quality images. This section allows you to swipe left or right to manually delete or keep photos.

Tap the Review and Clean or Review and Optimize button in any section to view and select images. You can select to remove the images from your device, transfer them to a cloud service, or optimize them to save space.

How is advanced (Pro) optimization different from photo optimization in the free version of Avast Cleanup?

When you optimize the photos on your device, the pixel size is decreased so that the image looks almost the same as the original, but consumes much less space on your device.

When compared, original and optimized images look very similar on your device screen. For printing purposes, however, we recommend you use the original, higher quality versions.

Apps

What is the Apps feature?

The Apps feature allows you to perform an analysis of the apps on your device which may be using a significant amount of storage space or data. After you tap the Apps tile and the analysis completes, you can view which apps are using which resources on your device.

To view a list of your unused apps:

Scroll down to Find unused apps and tap Grant Permission.

Tap Avast Cleanup.

Tap the slider next to Allow usage tracking.

After you grant permission to Avast Cleanup, you can also view which apps you spend the most and least time using. Knowing the amount of time you spend on each app can be helpful to determine which apps you should uninstall from your device.

How can I delete unwanted apps from my device?

To easily delete unwanted apps from your device, follow these steps:

Tap the menu icon at the top-left of the app interface, then tap Apps. A summary of your apps and the amount of space each is consuming appears.

Tick one or more apps then tap the delete icon that appears.

Tap Delete to confirm the deletion, then tap OK.

The analysis does not include pre-installed device applications nor can you delete such apps using Avast Cleanup.

To view details, such as which apps use the most data and which apps you spend the most time on, tap the Apps tile on the main app interface.

What is app data and what are the consequences of deleting it from my device?

App data is the data that is accumulated and stored (often unnecessarily) on your device when you use certain apps. Avast Cleanup identifies app data that you should be able to safely remove from your device. When using this feature, we recommend you always consider the impact removing app data may have on the functionality of the source app. For example, each time you open Google Maps, the app re-downloads any offline maps that were removed by Avast Cleanup. Similarly, Spotify re-downloads offline tracks when needed. Conversely, deleting OBB type app data, which is often associated with large games, may release a lot of space on your device while allowing you to keep the game, but, you may need to re-install or re-download the OBB file if you decide to continue the game.

How can I delete app data from my device?

Follow these steps:

Tap the menu icon at the top-left of the app interface, then tap Apps.

Tap the App Data tab.

Tick one or more app data types then tap the delete icon that appears.

Tap Delete to confirm the deletion.

If you delete an app data file, all data related to the selected application, including the custom settings or OBB files related to the additional features bought on Google Play Store, are deleted. After you delete these files, the application runs in default configuration with no additional features.

How can I organize apps and app data in Avast Cleanup?

In the Applications or App Data sections of Avast Cleanup, your apps or app data are displayed by default according to size. You can also display apps or app data by name, and apps by usage. Tap the statistics icon at the top-right to change the setting.

Why don't certain app caches appear in the App Data section?

The items included in this section are limited to data from some of the most commonly used apps. These apps have been carefully analyzed and selected to be included as deleting them is unlikely to cause issues with your device. Regardless, we recommend you always use caution when deleting app data.

Boost Memory

What is the Boost Memory feature?

When you tap the Boost Memory button on the main screen of the app, Avast Cleanup stops all non-system apps from running in the background. This action makes the memory space that was occupied by this background activity available for other purposes.

How long do the effects of the Boost Memory feature last?

The amount of memory the Boost Memory action frees on your device and how long it lasts depends on how active your apps are, and whether they automatically restart or require a manual restart. Some apps instantly reload and continue to occupy memory space, others reload but consume less memory than before the Memory Boost, and some do not affect your memory again until you actively reopen them.

Is it harmful to stop an app with the Boost Memory feature?

Mobile apps are designed to cope with sudden closures which means stopping apps via the Boost Memory feature should not have a detrimental impact on your apps.

Premium Features

How can I subscribe to Avast Cleanup Pro?

You can subscribe to Avast Cleanup Pro by tapping the Upgrade badge on the main screen of the app. When you tap this option, you are directed to the purchase screen to select your subscription type (monthly or yearly) and complete the upgrade. After upgrading, the premium features are unlocked and available to use. To upgrade, you need to have a Google account connected with Google Play services.

Can I use my Avast Cleanup Pro subscription on more than one device?

Your Avast Cleanup Pro subscription is connected to your Google account and activates automatically on all devices that you use your account on when you install the app. If the premium features are not automatically unlocked, you can activate an existing subscription in your Avast Cleanup settings.

How can I activate a previously purchased Avast Cleanup Pro subscription on an alternative device?

Your Avast Cleanup Pro subscription automatically activates on all devices that are signed into the Google account you purchased the subscription from. If you already have a subscription but the premium features are not available in the app, ensure that you are signed into the correct account in Google Play Store.

Alternatively, manually check for a valid subscription by following these steps:

Tap Free Trial at the top-right corner of the interface.

On the Upgrade screen, tap the three dots icon.

Tap Restore Purchase.

Avast Cleanup checks for a subscription registered to the Google account you are currently signed into and activates it on your device.

What is Auto-cleaning?

With Avast Cleanup Pro, you can activate automatic cleaning of your device by specifying the frequency (every 24 hours, 48 hours, 72 hours, or week), and the minimum amount of space you want to clean. Automatic cleaning occurs as often as you set without you needing to activate it each time. If you turn the Notify me when cleaning is complete option ON in the Automatic cleaning settings, you are informed each time an automatic clean completes.

To schedule regular cleans, tap the Auto-cleaning button on the main screen of the app and specify your scheduling preferences. If you have not yet purchased an Avast Cleanup Pro subscription, you will be prompted to do so before you can configure an automatic clean.

Is my Avast Cleanup Pro subscription valid for other Avast Pro apps?

No. If you purchase a subscription for Avast Cleanup Pro, your subscription is only valid for this app. This subscription does not work for any other Avast Pro app, even if the apps are installed on the same mobile device. For example, if you want to use Avast Mobile Security Pro in addition to Avast Cleanup Pro, you need to purchase a separate subscription directly from the Avast Mobile Security app.

How can I cancel a Avast Cleanup Pro subscription?

To cancel a subscription, ensure that you are signed into the Google account that you used to purchase the subscription, then follow these steps:

Open Google Play Store on your device.

Tap the menu icon at the top-left, then tap Account.

Tap Subscriptions, then tap Cancel below the subscription.

Tap Cancel Subscription to confirm.

Google Play Store confirms the subscription is cancelled. Your subscription is cancelled and will stop at the end of the current billing cycle.

General

Why do I need to grant the Usage Access permission to Avast Cleanup?

When you tap the Boost Memory button on the main screen of the app, Avast Cleanup provides an overview of the apps installed on your device and their downloaded data. Without the Usage Access permission, Avast Cleanup cannot sort your apps by usage on Android 5 and above.

Why do I need to grant the In-app Purchases permission to Avast Cleanup?

In addition to the free version of Avast Cleanup, we also offer paid Avast Cleanup Pro which includes a range of additional features and functions. The In-app Purchases permission enables you to upgrade to the paid version of the app if and when you want to. You are not charged by Avast Cleanup unless you proceed to the purchase screen and provide all of your payment details.

What is the Charging screen?

The Charging screen is a feature that displays charging progress and optimizes the performance of your device by stopping all background tasks. When this screen is active, you can check what time your device will finish charging and view the percentage of battery charge.

To enable this feature, follow these steps:

Tap the menu icon (three lines) in the top left corner of the Avast Cleanup screen.

Tap Settings.

Tap Charging screen, then tap the slider so that it changes to ON.

When you enable Charging screen, you can specify the following settings:

Tap Activate any time charging begins or Activate when charging with the screen off according to your preferences. By default, the Charging screen appears each time you begin charging your device.

Tap Boost automatically when charging begins to allow Avast Cleanup to stop any running tasks while your device is charging.

If Avast Mobile Security is installed on your device, you need to manage your Charging screen settings in Avast Mobile Security. If both Avast Mobile Security and Avast Battery Saver are installed on your device, you need to manage your Charging screen settings in Avast Battery Saver. Otherwise, you can manage this feature in your Avast Cleanup settings.

How can I manage my settings for Avast Cleanup?

To access the settings for Avast Cleanup, tap the menu icon at the top-left of the app interface, tap Settings, then tap a category to manage the related settings. The following settings are available:

General Avast Cleanup settings:

Home screen shortcuts: add shortcuts to the Clean, Boost, and Analysis functions so that they are accessible directly from your device home screen.

Safe cleaning: turn ONSafe Clean Check if you want to check items before they are permanently removed from your device during a Safe Clean. Turn on Cache cleaner to allow Avast Cleanup to clean hidden cache. Untick the types of items that you do not want Cleanup to delete.

Charging screen: specify how you want Charging screen to behave. These settings are only available in Avast Cleanup if Avast Mobile Security and Avast Battery Saver are not installed on your device. If all three apps are installed, manage these settings from Avast Battery Saver. If only Avast Cleanup and Avast Mobile Security are installed, manage these settings from Avast Mobile Security.

Cloud services: tap the Connect next to a cloud storage provider (Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive) to connect to your account or create a new account. Turn ON the settings that you want to apply to your cloud transfers.

Memory Booster check: turn OFF if you do not want to review apps before their background activity is stopped by the Boost Memory feature.

Advanced Avast Cleanup Pro settings:

Auto-cleaning: turn ONautomatic cleaning so that you don't need to manually open the app and tap the Safe Clean button each time you want to clean your device. Set the frequency and minimum amount of space you want to clean each time.

Photo optimizer: customize the optimization of your images. For maximum optimization, set the size to Screen and the compression to Aggressive.

Remove ads: tap Remove ads to go through the steps to upgrade to an Avast Cleanup Pro subscription. After upgrading, this setting disappears and you will no longer see ads in the app.

Premium settings are marked as Pro. If you do not already have a Avast Cleanup Pro subscription, tap Get Cleanup Pro to proceed to the purchase screen.

How can I organize items in Avast Cleanup?

By default, the items on your device, such as photos, videos, and other file types, are organized according to size. However, you can reorganize them according to the following information:

Pictures: size, name, date of last modification, date of creation, folder, upload status, or whether the picture is optimizable.

Media & Files:

Video: size, name, date of last modification, date of creation, folder, upload status, or whether the video is optimizable.

To reorganize items, tap the statistics icon at the top-right of a selected category and select your preferred option.

What does 'Scanner updated' relate to in the About application section of Avast Cleanup settings?

The Avast Cleanup scanner is regularly updated to ensure that the app is as effective as possible. When improvements are made, the scanner configuration is automatically updated on your device (via a very small download), and the date is reflected in the Scanner updated section of the About application screen. To see this information, tap the menu icon at the top-left of the app interface, tap Settings, then tap About application.

How can I provide feedback about the app or ask for help?

If you want to provide feedback or show appreciation and support for Avast mobile products, you can:

For help or to send feedback directly to us, tap the menu icon at the top-left of the app interface, then tap Help & Feedback and try one of the following options:

Tap Avast direct support to contact us directly for help and support (this feature is only available if you have the paid Avast Cleanup Pro version of the app).

Tap an FAQ category to see a list of frequently asked questions.

Tap Go to our forum to be directed to our forum where you can ask or answer questions about Avast Cleanup.

Tap Send us a message to fill in a feedback form about the app and send it directly to our developers (this form is for feedback purposes only and we cannot guarantee a response).

How do I disable ads in Avast Cleanup?

Avast is pleased to offer both a free and paid version (Avast Cleanup Pro) of the app. Although we're confident you'll find both versions of the app highly advantageous to the performance of your device, Avast Cleanup Pro is ad-free and includes a range of additional features and benefits. To eliminate ads in Avast Cleanup, we recommend upgrading to Avast Cleanup Pro. You can upgrade to Avast Cleanup Pro by tapping the Get Cleanup Pro button on the main screen of the app interface.

How do I disable popups related to residual files and obsolete APKs?

To disable popups related to residual files and obsolete APKs, follow these steps:

Tap the menu icon (three lines), then tapSettings.

Tap Notifications.

Tap App leftover detection, then tap Disabled.

Tap Obsolete APK detection, then tap Disabled.

How can I opt out of sending anonymous data to Avast?

Avast Cleanup collects anonymous usage statistics and error reports to help us improve the app. If you do not want to participate in the collection of anonymous data, tap the menu icon at the top-left of the app interface, tap Help & Feedback, then tap Usage statistics. On the next screen, turn off the appropriate setting.

Does Avast offer any other apps I could benefit from?

Avast has created the following range of apps to improve the security and performance of your mobile device, and protect you from hackers and thieves:

Avast Mobile Security: Secure your phone and tablet with our free Avast Mobile Security app which features both antivirus and Wi-Fi vulnerability protection. With embedded Anti-Theft feature allows you to locate and track your lost or stolen device on a map with our web-based mobile tracking that uses GPS and other triangulation methods.

Avast SecureLine VPN: Prevent hackers from accessing and stealing your data when you are connected to public or open Wi-Fi networks, secure your personal Wi-Fi networks, and protect your privacy using the SecureLine private encryption VPN.

Avast Passwords: Keep all of your passwords protected and easily sign into your online accounts using one main password. You can synchronize this app across multiple devices.

Avast Battery Saver: Improve the endurance of your device battery between recharges with Avast Battery Saver which stops unnecessary apps from running in the background and helps you optimize your device settings.

Avast SecureLine VPN: Prevent hackers from accessing and stealing your data when you are connected to public or open Wi-Fi networks, secure your personal Wi-Fi networks, and protect your privacy using the SecureLine private encryption VPN.

Avast SecureMe: Checks Wi-Fi networks for vulnerabilities such as routers with weak passwords, unsecured wireless networks. It also includes a basic VPN service that guarantees the safety when a device is connected to a public network.

Avast Passwords: Keep all of your passwords protected and easily sign into your online accounts using one main password. You can synchronize this app across multiple devices.